LaSalle Street (Chicago): history, architecture and its financial role

Route and physical characteristics

The street extends through several neighborhoods, changing in scale and character as it moves away from downtown. In the Loop the street is lined with tall office towers and narrow sidewalks that emphasize vertical architecture. North and south of the Loop the street becomes more mixed in use, with residential sections, smaller commercial properties and civic buildings. LaSalle's orientation and long, straight alignment make it an important traffic and transit spine for the central city.

Notable buildings and architecture

LaSalle Street features a number of architecturally significant structures that reflect several eras of Chicago design. Most prominent is the historic Chicago Board of Trade Building, long associated with commodity trading and a focal point of the street. Other well-known buildings along or near LaSalle include the Rookery and several early 20th-century bank towers, which display classic, monumental facades typical of institutional architecture.

History and name

The avenue is named for the French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, who was important to early exploration of the Great Lakes and Mississippi Basin; many U.S. places commemorate his name. LaSalle Street developed in step with Chicago’s commercial growth: as the city expanded in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, banks and exchanges located near one another for convenience, creating the street’s financial identity.

Uses, cultural role and distinctions

Beyond banking and trading, LaSalle Street is a frequent choice for film and television crews because of its dramatic streetscape and the recognizable silhouette of the board of trade building. Its role as a financial center has evolved, with modern institutions and technology changing the nature of trading and office use, yet the street remains a symbol of Chicago’s economic history and civic architecture.

Points of interest

• Chicago Board of Trade – historic exchange and architectural landmark (details).
• Rookery and classic bank towers – examples of late 19th- and early 20th-century commercial design.
• Loop location – the section inside the Chicago Loop is most associated with finance.
• Namesake – commemorates Sieur de La Salle, an early explorer.

LaSalle Street remains an important artery in Chicago, carrying historical, economic and cultural significance for visitors and residents alike.